Chilean capital in ecstasy at 1st World Cup win
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Despite the winter chill in the Southern Hemisphere, at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, the very center of Chile's capital city Santiago was already packed with loyal fanatics, waiting to watch the debut game of their national soccer team in South Africa.
The sun had not risen in Chile, and a freezing winter rain came in surprise. However not the darkness nor the coldness could lower the heat at heart, the fanatics said. They shouted, sang, danced and jumped, and they believed the energy and vibe could be felt telepathically by the Chilean team in South Africa.
Unlike the other side of the planet, beautiful Chilean girls here cannot dress up in eye-catching bikinis to cheer their heroes' entrance into World Cup's battle field, but even in thick coats covered with national flags, their enthusiasm seemed no less high.
In various spots of the city, big wide screens had been set up for people to watch the game, and smaller tv screens were put at busy streets downtown as entertainment while one waits for the traffic lights to change.
The city's morning traffic circulation had never been so smooth and easy, for nobody was commuting: They stayed at home to watch the game, or they were among other thousands, excited, eager, anxious... and maybe with a face painted in red, white and blue -- colors of Chile's national flag.
Andrea, a teenage girl who came to the Presidential Palace "La Moneda" with her mother and brother told Xinhua that she hoped her heroes could win the game 3-0, and at least one of the goals done by her idol, the Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez.
At the joint between the streets Bandera and New York, another uncountable mass of fanatics were gathered in front of a gigantic screen, to sigh and boo for each failed goal attempt, to sing and cheer to the top of their voices, and to dance and bounce in pure joy.
Slogan of "Chi-chi-chi, le-le-le, viva Chile!", and song of "Let's go, Chileans!" were even louder than the Vuvuzula in the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa. One could not hear anything else than the cries for glory and drumbits of encouragement.
At the 34th minute into the game, Chile's No.4 Jean Beausejour fed the Hondurans with a solid goal, which eventually led the Chileans to victory.
In the same instant, a deafening wave of cheers broke out among the Chilean fans. They turned so emotional as if the whole world had gone crazy. Screaming seemed everlasting, so did the singing and dancing and whistling; the maddened crowd became a sea of happy noisies and motions.
Or maybe they were just drunk, at the first World Cup victory after 48 years.
Curiously, on the same June 16, but 48 years ago, the then host Chile beat Yogoslavia with a same 1-0 to win the third place of the World Cup of 1962. The Chilean fanatics said that the victory had been long, long awaited.
Game concluded, but the excitement continued. Fanatics from everywhere of the city began a march towards the central Plaza Italia, where they will savior and celebrate the glorious match with increasing pride.
They blocked the main traffic vein Alameda Avenue till it was completely paralyzed. The total number of participants could top tens of thousands, a police officer told Xinhua.
A boy named Luis with a Mohican in red, white and blue said that the Chilean team will go on winning perhaps even to seize a chance to hold the World Cup, and the celebration will continue all day and all night.
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